About Us
growing a Healthier, Greener & more connected Southampton
Our Vision
We envision Southampton as a city where people and nature can be supported towards mutual flourishing. As an aspiring National Park City, our vision is for an urban setting where vibrant biodiversities are woven into the fabric of our daily lives, where people, culture and nature can coexist harmoniously.
In this vision, human and nonhuman residents alike flourish in a city built for collective well-being. Neighbourhoods centre around places of communal connection: gardens, parks, allotments, and other dynamic hubs, all connected by sustainable transportation corridors designed both for humans and wildlife. By nurturing harmonious relationships between all inhabitants, we can build resilient interconnected communities capable of confronting the challenges of our time.
Our Purpose
We know that positive urban placemaking starts with people, people and their capacity to reimagine and enact more harmonious and healthy urban lives. This must begin somewhere - with a sense of belonging and connection to others: this is what we see as our core purpose. Ultimately, we see positive connections as the foundation to achieving our vision: connections amongst people, to ourselves, and to other species. From stronger connections grow healthier, happier and greener cities, and vice versa.
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Our purpose is to strengthen these relationships throughout Southampton. Specifically, we recognise that bringing people closer to the urban nature on their doorsteps will support a sense of belonging, as well as igniting a collective reimagining of what steps can be taken to steward their communities.
Together, we can co-create a resilient city that thrives in harmony with the natural world
Our Projects &
Proposals for Southampton
As well as supporting the activities of numerous groups and individuals across the city, we continue to deliver our own initiatives to support the human communities of Southampton alongside its rich wildlife and climate.
The National Park City Story
The National Park City movement was born in London around 2013. It originated as a way to reimagine urban environments by promoting green spaces, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability within cities. It envisions cities functioning more like national parks, with an emphasis on conservation, recreation, and community engagement.
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In 2019, London officially became the first National Park City. This designation aimed to enhance London's green spaces, promote biodiversity, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
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The concept quickly spread beyond London, inspiring other cities around the world to adopt similar initiatives. Adelaide became the second National Park City in 2021, and cities such as Chattanooga, Rotterdam, Glasgow, and Cardiff are also embracing the National Park City model, each adapting it to suit their unique urban landscapes and challenges.
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